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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54991</law_id><section_number>55.1-2900</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-601</reference><reference>58.1-3901</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Miscellaneous</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="29">Virginia Self-Service Storage Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Default</span>&#x201D; means the failure to perform on time any obligation or duty set forth in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> or this chapter.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Last known address</span>&#x201D; means that address or electronic mail address provided by the <span class="dictionary">occupant</span> in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> or the address or electronic mail address provided by the <span class="dictionary">occupant</span> in a subsequent written notice of a change of address.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Leased space</span>&#x201D; means the individual storage space at the self-service facility that is leased or rented to an <span class="dictionary">occupant</span> pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Occupant</span>&#x201D; means a person, his sublessee, successor, or assign, entitled to the use of a <span class="dictionary">leased space</span> at a <span class="dictionary">self-service storage facility</span> under a <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Owner</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, operator, lessor, or sublessor of a <span class="dictionary">self-service storage facility</span>, his agent, or any other person authorized to manage the facility or to receive rent from any <span class="dictionary">occupant</span> under a <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>.
		The <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of a <span class="dictionary">self-service storage facility</span> is not a warehouseman as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions and index of definitions" href="/8.7-102/">8.7-102</a>, unless the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> <span class="dictionary">issues</span> a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the <span class="dictionary">personal property</span> stored, in which event, the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> and the <span class="dictionary">occupant</span> are subject to the provisions of Title 8.7 dealing with warehousemen.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Personal property</span>&#x201D; means movable property not affixed to land and includes goods, wares, merchandise, and household items and furnishings.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Rental agreement</span>&#x201D; means any agreement or lease that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, or rules concerning the use and occupancy of a <span class="dictionary">self-service storage facility</span>. The <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> may be delivered and accepted electronically.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Self-service storage facility</span>&#x201D; means any real property designed and used for renting or leasing individual storage spaces, other than storage spaces that are leased or rented as an incident to the lease or rental of residential property or dwelling units, to which the <span class="dictionary">occupants</span> thereof have access for storing or removing their <span class="dictionary">personal property</span>. No <span class="dictionary">occupant</span> shall use a <span class="dictionary">self-service storage facility</span> for residential purposes.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Verified mail</span>&#x201D; means any method of mailing that is offered by the United States Postal Service or private delivery service that provides <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of mailing.</p></section></text><history>1981, c. 627, &#xA7; 55-417; 2009, c. 664; 2015, c. 208; 2019, c. 712; 2024, c. 673.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
